Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Manager interview questions

High-quality Purchasing Managers are experienced, qualified critical-thinkers with technical knowledge and an awesome approach to purchasing strategies. They’ll be great negotiators with top leadership skills and an understanding of cost-saving tactics and quality standards. 

Top tip: Diversity is key for a thriving workplace. Keep an eye out for management and exec-level candidates from varying backgrounds and aim to eliminate bias from your hiring process.

Role-specific interview questions

• What is your contract management experience?
• What would you ask for when getting supplier references?
• Are you familiar with UCC (Uniform Commercial Code)?
• Describe an awesome purchasing process.
• How do you evaluate a supplier?
• What is a QPL (Qualified Products List)?
• How do you find new suppliers?
• What is your supervisory experience?
• Have you used any vendor management tech?
• How would you process a purchase requisition?

Behavioral interview questions

• Tell us about a time you successfully gained a significant discount.
• Tell me about a time you successfully led a buyer team.
• Have you ever had to cancel a supplier contract? What happened?
• Describe a time you disagreed with a supplier. How did you resolve it?
• What's the most unsuccessful purchase you’ve ever made? What did you learn?

Problem solving interview questions

• How do you ensure important orders aren’t delayed?
• What would you do if you received a batch of products that didn’t meet specifications?
• How would you go about achieving cost savings in a limited time?
• What would you do if a department asked for equipment that would send you over-budget?
• How would you deal with a consistently underperforming buyer or purchasing agent?